Veterans Day 2016
Members of the First Cavalry Honor Guards pay their respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Veterans Day November 11, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
A woman is reflected while walking past the mural wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day in Washington, D.C., November 11, 2016.
Washington, D.C.
World War II veterans attend a Veterans Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on November 11, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Architect Joe Weishaar, winner of the design contest for the future WWI Memorial in Washington, adjusts some of the 499 U.S. flags in honor of the 499 fallen Washington-area WWI veterans who died in that conflict, at the D.C. War Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Veterans Day November 11, 2016.
Arlington, Va.
A man bows his head in prayer during a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., November 11, 2016.
Arlington, Va.
President Barack Obama speaks in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Nov. 11, 2016.
“Veterans Day often follows a hard-fought political campaign -- an exercise in the free speech and self-government that you fought for,” President Obama said. “It often lays bare disagreements across our nation. But the American instinct has been to find isolation in opposite corners, it is to find strength in our common creed, to forge unity from our great diversity, to sustain that strength and unity even when it is hard. And when the election is over, as we search for ways to come together, to reconnect with one another and with the principles that are more enduring than transitory politics, some of our best examples are the men and women we salute on Veterans Day.
“Whenever the world makes you cynical, whenever you seek true humility and selflessness, look to a veteran.”
Arlington, Va.
Guests listen to President Barack Obama during a ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., November 11, 2016.
Arlington, Va.
Guests listen to President Barack Obama during a ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., November 11, 2016.
Arlington, Va.
President Barack Obama arrives to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Arlington, Va.
President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. At left is Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, Commander of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.
Arlington, Va.
President Barack Obama participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day November 11, 2016 in Arlington, Virginia.
Washington, D.C.
Volunteer Ryan Young takes a rubbing of a name engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016.
New York City
A large U.S. flag is carried up Fifth Avenue during the Veterans Day parade, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York.
New York City
Children with the greater New York Cub Scouts march under a large U.S. flag during the Veterans Day parade, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York.
New York City
U.S. Army members march during the Veteran’s Day parade in New York, U.S., November 11, 2016.
New York City
Members of the Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, N.J., tap hands with spectators during the Veterans Day parade, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York.
New York City
U.S. Army forces march during the Veteran’s Day parade in New York, U.S., November 11, 2016.
New York City
People holds U.S. flags during the Veterans Day parade, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York.
New York City
A U.S. war veteran pays respect during a minute of silence during the Veteran’s Day parade in New York, N.Y., November 11, 2016.
Sulphur, La.
The Gilded Ladies, of Sulphur, La., get together once a week for a special purpose: Each Veterans Day they give away their hand-stitched “hugs” to military veterans. This year, the group plans to give away six quilts to local veterans at a ceremony planned at the town’s Henning Cultural Center.
In past years, most of their quilts have gone to World War II or Vietnam veterans, but this year some are going to veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The ladies can see how emotional veterans get, and how much the gift means to them. “A quilt is like a hug. That’s all there is to it,” quilter Debra Fleming told the Associated Press.
Springfield, Ill.
Army veteran Dale Hunter of Springfield, Ill., participates in a “Breakfast to Veterans for Veterans Day” with Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill.
Concord, N.H.
Doug Taylor salutes as “Taps” is played in the Hall of Flags during a Veterans Day ceremony at the statehouse, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in Concord, N.H.
Washington, D.C.
A bugler plays “Taps” during a Veterans Day ceremony at the World War II Memorial November 11, 2016 in Washington, D.C. The ceremony paid tribute to the more than 16 million men and women who served with the U.S. armed forces during World War II.